Add 10, if you're a man. A good general rule for converting men's pants sizes to European sizing is to add 10 to your waist size. So if you wear a 32 pants in the U.S., you will wear a 42 in Europe. Remember, because sizing varies by brand, this is a general guideline, not a hard-and-fast rule.
Add 28 if you're a woman. Converting European pants sizes for women is a little less straightforward than it is for men, but in general, a size 8 in the U.S. will likely be about a size 36 in Europe.
Make room for American curves, if you're a woman. European designers tend to cut clothing for a slimmer figure.
Measure your waist and hips, and take the measurements along on your trip. Because sizing varies among brands, some shops label sizing based on measurements in addition to traditional sizing units.
Remember that sizing in Europe can vary among countries. Clothes are often tagged with French, German, Spanish and Italian sizing.
